Air duct control for heating systems



April 2, 1946. LEIGH 2,397,672

AIR DUCT CONTROL FO R HEATING SYSTEMS Filed Nov. 24, 1945 IN V EN TOR. 505597 A. Ana/1 Patente cl Apr. 2, 1946 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Am DUCT CONTROL'FOR HEATING- SYSTEMS 1 Robert L. Leigh, Coopers ville, Mich. Application November 24, 1943. Serial No.'5 1 1',629

10 Claims. (o1. 98-107) This invention relates to improvements-in air duct control for heating systems.

It has long been common practice to control air ducts or conduits for hot air heating systems by means of butterfly valves or dampers located near the heating unit. To adjust or balance such a system effectively requires two people, one located at the damper end and the other at the outlet of the conduit to check the flow of air. Furthermore, such adjusting or balancing means are not accurate or exact.

The main obj'ectsof this invention are:

First, to provide a control valve for the ducts or conduits of heating systems which can be accurately adjusted to control the delivery through the conduit.

Second, to provide a structure in whichone person can effect the adjustment and check the delivery under operating conditions.

Third, to provide a structure having these advantages which is very simple and economical in its parts and at the same time the parts are effectively and adjustably supported.

Objects pertaining to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined-inthe claims.

A structure which embodies thei'eatures of the invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which: 1 r m Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a register housing and associated conduit embody ing the features of the invention.

Fig. 21s a fragmentary side elevation partially in vertical section.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of thevalve unit ready for installation in the conduit.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated the register designated generally by the numeral 4 is of the wall type, and comprises the housing 2 having a face plate 3 provided with louvers 4. It will be noted that this face plate projects beyond the walls of the housing so as to serve as a finish plate when the register is installed;

The conduit 5 is of rectangular section or at least is preferably provided with a terminal portion of rectangular section. I have not illustrated the connection to the heating unit as that will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, and it will also be understood that commonly there are a number 01' air ducts or conduits. leading from the heating unit to different rooms. or spaces to be heated.

The valve unit designated generally by the numeral 8 comprises a rectangular frame, the front and rear members. I of which are of angular section, the endmembers 8' being rigidly secured thereto in box-like frame formation. The man- I nor of joining the parts constituting the frame is not illustrated. The frame is provided with a cross piece '9 disposed centrally, this cross piece in the preferred embodiment being of channel section with the channel arranged facing upward-1y. p

The plate-like-valve members to are provided with upturned pivot earsll at their outer ends pivotally secured at II on the end members of the frame. At their inner ends the valve members in are provided with upturned ears l3 pivoted at [3' on the flanges of the cross member. These ears l3 are extended upwardly beyond their pivotslS. to provide rocker arms. l4, These rocker arms of the pairs of valve members are connected by links i5 disposed on the inner sides of the ears [3 and pivoted thereto at i6.

An adjusting block [1 is slidably supported on the cross. piece 9 with the. channel of this cross piece constituting a guideway for the block, in its sliding movement; The block ll is disposed between the links it and is provided. withlaterally projecting pins 18 which engage thevertical slots 19 in the links so thatas the block is reciprocated on the cross piece, the valve members are opened and closed. "They are shown in closed position in Fig. 3 and'in partially open position in Fig. 2. The adjusting screw as is threaded into the block i! with its inner and supported thereby and projects through the front piece of the frame. and through the wall of the conduit as shown in Fig. 2. The adjusting screw is retained against endwise. movement relative to the valve frame 6 by any old and common expedient used for preventing endwise movement of rotary shafts as, for instance, by means of cotter Pins. 24. These cotter' pins extend through the shaft 20 and are disposed one in front of the conduit '5 and another at the rear of the front member I of the valve frame 6. The end of .the adjusting screw is slotted at it vto receive. ascrewdriver to facilitate adjustment. I m I The frame 3 is provided with a hole 22 aiined with the screw to permit access to the screw. The hole is normally closed by the escutcheon plate or slide 23.

My improvedv controlvalve is very simple in structure, easily installed, and is, strongv and rigid, even when formed of relatively lightmaterials. It is positioned so that it can be accurately adjusted to regulate the flow through the individual stacks or conduits. I havenot attempted toiilustrateembodiments and adaptations which I contemplate as it is believed this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody the invention as may bedesirable for the particular installation.

Having thus described my invention what I a rectangular valve frame mounted within said conduit adjacent said register housing, a cross piece of upwardly facing channel section disposed centrally of said frame, plate-like valve 5 members arranged in side-by side relation at each side of said cross piece and provided with upwardly projecting pivot ears at the ends thereof pivoted on said cross piece and on the ends of said frame, the ears at the inner ends of said valve members being extended to provide rocker arms, links connecting the rocker arms of said valve members disposed on the inner sides thereof above the flanges of said cross piece, an adjusting 'block slidable on said crosspiece between said links and provided with laterally projecting pins,

said links having vertical slots receiving said pins, ,and an adjusting screw having threaded engagement with said block and extending forwardly through said frame and conduit, the projecting end of said screw being adapted to'receive an aduusting tool, said register face plate having a hole therein alined with said adjusting screw.

2, The combination with a register housing, of

1 an air conduit of rectangular section connected to said housing to deliver thereto, a rectangular valve fram mounted within said conduit adjacent said register housing, a cross piece .of upwardly facing channel section disposed centrally of .said frame, plate-like valve members arranged "in side by side relation at each side of said cross piece and provided with upwardly projecting j pivot cars at the ends thereof pivoted on said cross piece and'on the ends of said frame,the

'earsrat' the inner ends of said valve members being extended to provide rocker arms, links connecting the rocker arms of said valve members :"disposed on the inner sides thereof above the flanges of said cross piece, an adjusting block fslidable on said cross piece between said linksand provided with laterally projecting pins, said links having vertical slots receiving said pins, and an adjusting screw having threaded engagement with said block.

7 3. The combination with a register housing having a laterally directed discharge provided with a louver-equipped face plate, said face plate projecting below the bottom of the housing,an air conduit connected to the bottom of said housing todeliver thereto, a valve frame mounted within said conduit adjacent said register housing, a cross piece disposed centrally of said frame, valve members arranged inside by side parallel relation at each side of said cross piece and provided with upwardly projecting pivot ears at the ends thereof pivoted on said cross piece and on the, ends of said frame, the ears at the inner ends of said valve members being extended to provide rocker arms, links connecting the rocker arms of said valve members, an adjusting block slidable onv said cross piece between said links and operatively connected to said rocker arms, and an adjusting screw having threaded engagement with said block and extending forwardly through said frame and conduit, the projecting end of said screw being adapted to receive an adjusting tool, said register face plate having a hole therein alined with said adjusting screw, said block constituting a support for the inner end of said adjusting screw.

4. The combination with a register housing, of an air conduit connected to said housing to deliver thereto, a valve frame mounted within said conduit adjacent said register housing, a cross piece disposed centrally of said frame, valve members arranged in side by side parallel relation at each side of said cross piece and provided with upwardly projecting pivot ears at the ends thereof pivoted on said cross piece and on the ends of said frame, the ears at the inner ends of said valve members being extended to provide rocker arms, links connecting the rocker arms of said valve members, an adjusting block slidable :on said cross piece between said links and op'eratively connected to said rocker arms, and an adjusting screw, having threaded engagement with said block, said block constituting a support for the inner end of said adjusting screw.

5. The combination with a register housing, of an air conduit of rectangular section connected to said housing to deliver thereto, a valve frame mounted within said conduit adjacent said register housing, a cross piece disposed centrally of said frame, valve members arranged in side by side relation at each side of said cross piece and pivotally mounted on said cross piece and on the ends of said frame, the inner ends of said valve members being provided with actuating arms, links connecting the arms of said valve members, an adjusting block slidable on said cross piece andprovided with laterally projecting pins, said links having slots receiving said pins, and an adjusting screw having threaded engagement with said block and extending forwardly through said frame and conduit, the projecting end of said screw being adapted" to receive an adjusting tool, said register face plate having a hole therein' alined with said adjusting screw, said block constituting a support for the inner end of said adjusting screw.

6. The combination with a register housing, an air conduit of rectangular section connected to said housing to deliver thereto, a valve frame mounted within saidconduit adjacent said register housing, a cross piece disposed centrally of said frame; valve members arranged inside by side relation at each sideof saidcross' piece and pivotally mounted on said cross piece and on the ends of said frame, the inner ends of said valve members, being'providedwithactuating arms, links connectingthe arms of said valve 7 members, anadjusting block slidable on said cross piece and operatively connected to said links, and an adjusting screw having threaded engagement with said block, said block constituting a support for the inner end ofsaid adjusting screw;

'7. The combination with a register housing 'provided'with a faceplate which projects-below the bottom of the housing, of anairoonduit V ing opposite si'des'of said:frame, an adjusting block slidablyi supportedin the upwardly facing channel of said cross piece, operating connections for said block to said valve members whereby the valve members are simultaneously and uniformly adjusted by the adjustment of said block, and an adjusting screw having threaded engagement with said block and extending forwardly from the conduit, the projecting end of the screw being adapted to receive an adjusting tool, said register face plate concealing said adjusting screw but having a hole therein alined with the screw to facilitate its adjustment by means of a tool inserted through the opening.

8. The combination with a register housing, of an air conduit connected to deliver to said housing, a valve arranged within said conduit adjacent said register housing and comprising a frame mounted within the conduit, valve members arranged in parallel relation within said frame and pivotally mounted thereon, a sheet metal cross piece of upwardly opening channel cross section connecting opposite sides of said frame, an adjusting block slidably supported in the upwardly facing channel of said cross piece, operating connections for said block to said valve members whereby the valve members are simultaneously and uniformly adjusted by the adjustment of said block, and an adjusting screw having threaded engagement with said block and extending forwardly from the conduit.

9. The combination with an air conduit of rectangular section, of a valve frame mounted within said conduit adjacent the delivery end thereof, a cross piece disposed centrally of said frame, sets of valve members arranged in side by side relation on opposite sides of said cross piece and pivotally mounted thereon and on the ends of the frame, the inner ends of said valve members being provided with actuating arms, links connecting the actuating arms of the sets of valve members, an adjusting member slidably supported by said cross piece and operatively connected to said links, and an adjusting screw having threaded engagement with said adjusting member and projecting from said conduit, said adjusting member constituting a support for the inner end of said adjusting screw.

10. The combination with an air conduit of rectangular section, of a valve frame mounted within said conduit adjacent the delivery end thereof, a cross piece disposed centrally of said frame, sets of valve members arranged on opposite sides of said cross piece and pivotally mounted thereon and on the ends of the frame, the inner ends of said valve members being provided with actuating arms, an adjusting member slidably supported by said cross piece and operatively connected to said arms, and an adjusting screw having threaded engagement with said adjusting members and projecting from said conduit, said adjusting member constituting a support for the inner end of said adjusting screw.

ROBERT L. LEIGH. 

